Spooktacular launch for new Sheffield street food market

Ellen Beardmore

Sheffield has already shown its appetite for street food - with thousands turning out to the Peddler night market at Kelham Island.

Now there is a new event aimed at serving the growing demand for inexpensive food from around the globe.

Street City food night festival opens with a Halloween special on October 28, and will take place just off Ecclesall Road, in a warehouse in the precinct behind restaurant Le Bistrot Pierre. Naturally there will be truckloads of snap - with traders including Proove pizza from Broomhill, Crepe Lucette and an Indonesian street snacks trader lined up.

There is also a family element with a fancy dress competition, bands, street artists and spooky surprises.

Businessman Dan Hatfield - who starred on TV’s Posh Pawnbrokers and owns Style Bar salon next to the venue - is behind Street City Food Ltd with sister Cherise.

“We’ve been to food markets in London and to Peddler - which we think is fantastic - but there isn’t anything like that in the south of Sheffield”, said Dan.

“We found people are a bit reluctant to go further than Ecclesall Road for a night out and we thought if we could do something that celebrates our love of food, good drinks and music here it would be really good.

“We’ve got some really interesting traders selling everything from dim su to ostrich. People don’t always want to go to a stuffy restaurant on a Saturday night, they want to go to somewhere with a festival atmosphere, eat all kinds of food from all over the world and have a great experience - it’s dining for the 21st century.”

And there’s more than enough room in Sheffield for two food markets, said Dan,

“Cities such as Manchester and Liverpool have proved there can be more than one. It’s important we all work together and showcase the best food, music and beers to celebrate Sheffield.”

Street City is free and runs from 5pm on October 28, and 1pm on October 29.

Meanwhile several Sheffield businesses have been recognised in the prestigious Observer Food Monthly Awards. Picture House Social, Abbeydale Road, was runner up in the best place to drink prize for a second year. Steam Yard, off Divison Street, was runner up in the cheap eats category and Urban Pantry of Crookes runner up in best retailer.

James O’Hara, of Picture House Social, said: “It’s great for Sheffield independent businesses to be recognised nationally for their hard work.”

“From a personal point of view it’s really humbling for Picture House Social to be mentioned alongside the likes of Bar Termini, Friends of Ham and Bramble, some of the very best places to drink in the UK.”